Abstract

This study examined social support and dispositional optimism as factors predicting quality of life among caregivers of advanced cancer patients at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. The research was motivated by a lack of domestic studies on QoL among caregivers, as existing research has focused almost exclusively on patients’ population. A total of 279 caregivers of advanced cancer patients were purposively sampled in a cross-sectional survey that took place at the surgical ward and oncology unit of UCH Ibadan. Three hypotheses were formulated and tested using multiple regression analysis. The result of the first hypothesis indicated that social support has independent and significant positive influence on caregiver’s QoL [β = 458, t = .395; p<.05]. The result also confirmed hypothesis two, that dispositional optimism has significant positive influence on QoL [β = .74, t = 2.54; p<.05]. Social support and dispositional optimism jointly predicted QoL [F (2, 294) = 13.820; p<.001], accounting for 47.2% of the total variance observed in quality of life among caregivers. These results indicate that caregivers of cancer patients who are provided with adequate support and display high optimism in the course of caregiving will experience a better quality of life. Healthcare providers, such as oncologists and clinical psychologists, should emphasize and encourage the provision of social support and optimism training for caregivers of cancer patients to improve their quality of life, which is needed to enhance capacity for complementing medical treatment and care.